SnackWell’s Cookie Cakes texture better than flavor

Cookie or cake? It didn’t matter to Spokesman-Review reader food panel tasters.

The pillowy texture of SnackWell’s new “cookie cakes” won over most people on the panel. But a few were disappointed by the taste. In the end, the Black Forest cookies scored a three-star rating, while the Chocolate Mint cookies received three-and-a-half stars.

“This would be an all-day endeavor to recreate at home,” said Tina Johnson. “(It has a) unique texture, too. It’s sort of like biting into a cloud. Yum.”

But Jenny Whittaker said the “cookie cakes” were a sorry substitution for either cakes or cookies.

“I’m disappointed,” she said. “I see a chocolate-coated cake/cookie and I expect yummy chocolate flavor. I thought these were dry and tasteless.”

Skip Hubbard wasn’t impressed with the effort at Black Forest flavored cookies. “Fake fruit taste does not make anything better, ever,” he said. But he liked the chocolate-mint flavored cookies.

“Just like Girl Scout Thin Mints, but in a traditional devil’s-food cookie. Delicious,” he said.

Nancy Robinson agreed that the mint cookies were tasty. “A minty, fluffy, chocolate cookie. (They’re) very different and very good. What a refreshing taste,” she said.

Taster Marcia Oranen thought the mint cookies could have used a more subtle flavoring. “(I’m) not a fan of the mint. (It) tastes too minty to me – same soft cakelike consistency (as the Black Forest cookies),” she said.

SnackWell’s Cookie Cakes, Black Forest

Price: $2.89 per 6.75 ounce box, 12 cookies

Nutrition per cookie: 50 calories, .5 grams fat (no saturated fat, 9 percent fat calories), less than 1 gram protein, 12 grams carbohydrate, no cholesterol, no dietary fiber, 40 milligrams sodium.

Taste: • • •

Value: • • •

Comments: “Soft, squishy, almost like a marshmallow. Tasty and fun to eat.” – Larry Inman

“Very cakelike with a little marshmallow. A little sweet for me. I think kids would like this.” – Marcia Oranen

“It has that plasticky chocolate coating so familiar to Hostess fans, but a nice mouthfeel.” – Andy Hoye

SnackWell’s Cookie Cakes, Chocolate Mint

Price: $2.89 per 6.75-ounce box, 12 cookies

Nutrition per serving: 50 calories, .5 grams fat (no saturated fat, 9 percent fat calories), less than 1 gram protein, 12 grams carbohydrate, no cholesterol, no dietary fiber, 40 milligrams sodium.

Taste: • • • 1/2

Value: • • •

Comments: “Very good. Not quite as good as the subtle flavor of Black Forest, but very tasty.” – Larry Inman

“Cookie or cake? Either way, you’ll like it.” – Andy Hoye

“Equally as good as the (Black Forest) cookie, only minty. Nice cakey texture.” – Tina Johnson